[th350mark]

Question has anyone made a homemade shift kit for a turbo 350 {non lock-up}?Ive been throwing away parts and drilling holes.Ive built about 20 plus th350's.While doing a general bench rebuild,i leave out the following parts...3 check balls the 1-2 accumulator spring and the 2-3 accumulator spring then only install just one 1/4 inch steel check ball in the location closest to the modulator valve,the i drill 2 13/64 holes out the stock spacer plate.After final assembly & installation use a good quality type F fluid [ford]

[BstMech]

Right on!

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

i do the same thing to all mine

[4 Jaw Chuck]

Write this up in detail for the Knowledge base, include diagrams, this type of info is too valuable not to be included.

Hey son! your gonna be famous! :p

[willys36@aol.com]

I'm impressed!! I am a professional direction follower when it comes to trannys, never considered doing my own mods.

[Jason]

[quote]Originally posted by th350mark:
<strong>Question has anyone made a homemade shift kit for a turbo 350 {non lock-up}?Ive been throwing away parts and drilling holes.Ive built about 20 plus th350's.While doing a general bench rebuild,i leave out the following parts...3 check balls the 1-2 accumulator spring and the 2-3 accumulator spring then only install just one 1/4 inch steel check ball in the location closest to the modulator valve,the i drill 2 13/64 holes out the stock spacer plate.After final assembly & installation use a good quality type F fluid [ford] </strong><hr></blockquote>

It's better in my opinion to just block the accumulator feed holes instead of removing the springs. Blocking it prevents soft shifts caused by air pockets trapped in the accumulator bores.
The holes drilles are for the second and third clutch feeds.
Removing the direct clutch waved plate helps it shift harder into third and tightening all the clutch pack clearances makes the shifts faster.
Removing the inner lip seal in the direct drum gives third more holding power. Or you could use a fluid transfer plate installed under the front seperator support plate.
A stronger pressure regulator spring helps too.
Most shift kits for the th350 are pretty much the same these days. I like the Superior Products/Fairbanks kits because they are dirt cheap and have all the springs and plugs needed.

[Crosley]

I like to see the springs remain in the acculilators. The 2nd gear acc cover can wiggle around and wear against the snap ring and then blow out. Seen it a few times over the years.

You can block the acc piston for 2nd gear with a dowell rod that is about 2.875 inches long.

Or you can restrict the action of the 2nd gear acc by placing a round bolt into the feed hole on the side of the case where there is a threaded plug. I believe the Superior recalibration kits provide parts for this if my memory is working.

If you remove the middle lip seal from the direct drum it is best to plug a feed back hole near the manual valve in the separtator plate to avoid oil pressure feedback to the low / reverse friction pack.

[jvenice]

What would happen if you left out the direct accumulator spring (the one which is under the valve body in the case), I think that is what it is called.

[Crosley]

the only accumilator in the valve body area is the one that is "in" the valve body. That is for 3rd gear.

There is a servo in the case next to the mentioned accumilator. That servo is for the coasting band that applies in manual second gear.

That band provides engine braking in second gear.

[Maverick]

Great info!! Iam getting ready to do my first th350 rebuild. Watched a video last night on doing it and I actually know what ya'll are talking about!

[drewhelm]

Looks like I found a lot of tranny pros......anyone tell me what could cause me to not have reverse in a TH400? I drove it for the first time the other day, goes forward fine, put it in reverse and the engine idles down like the tranny engages, but there is no movement.....put the car in neutral and it won't roll backward either.....

Thanks.

[th350mark]

hello to all,thank you for any and all the replies to my posting about th350's.they are great..mark

[4 Jaw Chuck]

Me I'm just like Willy, a professional direction taker when it comes to trannies. This is too cool an idea to not note, I wonder if these tricks can be applied to other transmissions? Anyone do a Ford trans before? How about Chryco's?

[Crosley]

[quote]Originally posted by drewhelm:
<strong>Looks like I found a lot of tranny pros......anyone tell me what could cause me to not have reverse in a TH400? I drove it for the first time the other day, goes forward fine, put it in reverse and the engine idles down like the tranny engages, but there is no movement.....put the car in neutral and it won't roll backward either.....

Thanks.</strong><hr></blockquote>

======== the car will not roll if the engine is NOT running?

No reverse? Does 3rd gear work correctly?

[drewhelm]

It will roll forward but not backward.....even in neutral.

I didn't drive it fast enough to shift into 3rd, but 1st and 2nd seemed fine.